Published: 27 January 2014

Government has warned that it will impose stiff penalties on diamond firms that fail to meet this Thursday's deadline of establishing diamond cleaning facilities.

This comes ahead of the second sale of diamonds in Antwerp, Belgium, next month.

The sale is set to take place from February 12 to February 19.

The first inaugural sale of local gems in Antwerp was conducted in December last year and only $10 million was realised from the 279 723 carats.

90% of the stones were deemed to be "low quality industrial goods", which is the lowest grade in the diamond marketing nexus.

$1.5 million of the money earned from the sale went to Treasury.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa disclosed that government has since alerted diamond mining firms of the need to realise more revenue from the forthcoming Antwerp sale.
- sundaymail

You might also want to read this

• Mnangagwa to launch ambitious US$$12bn mining roadmap next week
• Zimbabwe mining industry lags behind in technolo
• Zimbabwe mining industry set to generate US$3bn
• Mining sector to meet Chitando over forex allocation
• 2018 mining output up
• Bilboes seeks to expand operations
• 12 mining firms granted prospecting orders
• Mining companies exempted from paying wage increment
• Blythdale Mining sues supplier for $26,000
• Zimbabwe to roll out Command Mining